S. F. Prescott

Unsettling and immersive!

Sam Rebelein holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Sam’s work has appeared in a number of speculative fiction publications, including Bourbon Penn, Coffin Bell Journal, The Dread Machine, Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year, and elsewhere. His award-nominated story “Black Fanged Thing” was listed as a stand-out piece of 2018 on Barnes & Noble’s “Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog.” HarperCollins’ horror and crime imprint William Morrow is publishing Sam’s debut horror novel EDENVILLE in Fall 2023, and his debut short story collection THE POORLY MADE AND OTHER THINGS in 2024.

Published October 3rd, 2023.

This book was insane. The ideas behind it blew my mind and I often found myself rereading parts in utter disbelief. It felt like Stephen King meets Stranger Things with gothic vibes in an academic setting. The fictional town of Edenville felt both creepy and cozy, and I loved learning all the myths associated with it through its cast of characters. I don’t read a lot of horror anymore so this was an interesting treat. I enjoyed the build up to the main antagonist, and the gory descriptions of his underlings stuck with me even after finishing it. I also love reading anything set in New York—either the city or upstate—and this story mentioned both.

One of the main characters, Campbell—a published indie author whose book, The Shattered Man, didn’t sell and wasn’t reviewed well—accepts a temporary teaching post in Edenville. He’s portrayed as narcissistic and I found him to be annoying throughout the book. His girlfriend, Quinn—the voice of reason—tries to warn him about the strange goings on in the town before he accepts the job, having experienced eerie things herself growing up. She is definitely the character I rooted for the most, secretly hoping she’d abandon Cam and head back to Brooklyn alone.

The world Rebelein created under Edenville’s cozy exterior was disturbing and extremely gross. If you’ve ever watched a Sam Raimi horror movie, you’ll grasp the level of gore I’m talking about. There were scenes of body horror that made me feel nauseated. One in particular still sticks with me in which Quinn accepts an invitation to what she thinks is a historical society meeting, only to find out it’s her ‘transformation’ ceremony where the real villain behind the horror is introduced. A highly unique and imaginative idea I’ve never read about before, but definitely not for the faint of heart. Consider yourself warned!

For readers who enjoy dark, gory horror with cosmic/lore/gothic vibes mixed in.

Synopsis:

After publishing his debut novel, The Shattered Man, to disappointing sales and reviews, Campbell P. Marion is struggling to find inspiration for a follow-up. When Edenville College invites him to join as a writer-in-residence, he’s convinced that his bad luck has finally taken a turn. His girlfriend Quinn isn’t so sure—she grew up near Edenville and has good reasons for not wanting to move back. Cam disregards her skepticism and accepts the job, with Quinn reluctantly following along.

But there’s something wrong in Edenville. Despite the charming old ladies milling about Main Street and picturesque sunflowers dotting the sidewalks, poison lurks beneath the surface. As a series of strange and ominous events escalate among Edenville and its residents, Cam and Quinn find themselves entangled in a dark and disturbing history.